10 greatest San Francisco 49ers of all time

Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana (16) of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass during the 49ers 36-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the 1987 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 9, 1988 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young passes the ball during second quarter action against the Miami Dolphins 23 August in San Francisco, CA. Young through three TD’s before leaving the game in the third quarter. The Dolphins won 21-20. AFP PHOTOS/Monica M. DAVEY (Photo credit should read MONICA M. DAVEY/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. QB Steve Young

He wasn’t originally a member of the San Francisco 49ers. In fact, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young’s professional career as a pro began in the United States Football League courtesy of the Los Angeles Express, who inked him to a 40-year contract.

Young eventually wound up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers via the USFL Supplemental Draft and played for that franchise for two years before San Francisco sideline leader Bill Walsh traded for the versatile performer.

With Joe Montana at the helm, playing time for Young was infrequent at best. But he would start 10 games in 1991 with the veteran signal-caller sidelined for the year. His breakout season came in ’92, when he won the first of two league MVP awards. It was also the first of three straight appearances in the conference title game. The first two resulted in losses to the Cowboys.

But in ’94 and another MVP season, the Niners returned to the “Big Game.” Young threw for 325 yards and a Super Bowl record six scores and also rushed for 49 yards in a 49-26 conquest of the Chargers. The seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro was enshrined in Canton in 2005. With San Francisco, he was the NFL’s top-rated passer an impressive six times.